40 Pieces of Advice for Beginning Game Devs

19 Pieces of Advice for Beginning Game Developers (I wish someone had told me these 10 years ago)1. Don't start with your big "dream game"—begin small and build up. 2. Finish your projects; any released game is better than an abandoned one. 3. Build long-term relationships; you never know where your peers will be in 10 years. 4. Your first game will be bad—that's okay. 5. Never deceive partners, colleagues, or players; trust is hard to rebuild. 6. Don't aim for quick cash; focus on creating lasting value. 7. Learn the technical basics—even if you're not a programmer. 8. Respect every discipline; games are a team effort. 9. Players aren't fools; they'll notice if you cut corners. 10. Sometimes, even great games fail; don't take it personally. 11. Keep playing games for fun; remember why you started. 12. Find your […]

Anton Slashcev September 29

Journal

Top Revenue-Driving Events in Royal Match

Top Revenue-Driving Events in Royal Match Here are the top 4:𝟭. 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘀𝘁 | 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁: 𝟲𝟳%• Type: Co-op with Friends • Mini-game: Plinko • Duration: 10 days • Description: Players work together to raise a dragon by earning tokens through a Plinko mini-game. Tokens are used to level up the dragon through three stages.𝟮. 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁 | 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁: 𝟱𝟰%• Type: Tasks / Milestone Rewards • Duration: 3 days • Description: Players complete 5 tasks related to various activities, unlocking new stages as the difficulty ramps up. The goal is to collect items like magnifying glasses across 5 total stages.𝟯. 𝗟𝗮𝘃𝗮 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 | 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁: 𝟯𝟰%• Type: Win Streak with Tournament • Duration: 1 day • Description: Players must clear 7 levels in a row without failing to stay in a group of 100 participants. The prize? A big reward—failure results in […]

Anton Slashcev September 28

Journal

Top AI Tools for Game Development:

Here are the top AI tools for game development: 1. Runway ML - AI-powered video editing and VFX tool for content creators.• Link: https://runwayml.com2. Meshy 3D - Generates 3D models using AI for faster game development.• Link: https://meshy.ai3. Leonardo AI - AI tool for creating detailed 2D art and game assets.• Link: https://www.leonardo.ai4. GPT o1-mini - Text generation AI for creating dialogues, scripts, and narrative• Link: https://openai.com5. Ludo AI - AI for automating game design concepts and brainstorming ideas• Link: https://ludo.ai6. Cascadeur - AI-assisted animation tool for smooth and realistic character movements.• Link: https://cascadeur.com7. Inworld AI - AI-driven tool to create intelligent and interactive NPCs.• Link: https://www.inworld.ai8. Nvidia ACE - AI platform for realistic NPC interaction and behavior in games.• Link: https://www.nvidia.com9. Aiva AI - AI music composition tool to generate soundtracks for games.• Link: https://www.aiva.ai10. ElevenLabs - AI-powered voiceover […]

Anton Slashcev September 26

Journal

Optimizing FTUE: First 30 Minutes of 30 Top Casual Games

Here are the key takeaways for optimizing FTUE based on the first 30 minutes of 30 top casual games: 1. Gameplay 🎮• Early levels introduce core mechanics.• No tough levels early on; ease players in.• 33% of games offer bonus levels within the first 30 minutes.2. Onboarding 📚• Tutorials usually last up to 4 levels.• Games without meta start with core mechanics.• Meta-based games dive straight into the story.3. Mechanics ⚙️• Expect 1 to 4 new mechanics in the first levels.• First in-game booster: introduced at level 7.• First per-level booster: introduced by level 9.4. Progression 📈• Players win almost 100% of the time in the first 30 minutes.• Most players complete 15-20 levels within this period.5. Monetization 💰• Ads are not introduced early on.• Players receive premium rewards worth up to $5.• First offers appear after 20 minutes.6. Miscellaneous […]

Anton Slashcev September 25

Journal

How to Increase Game ARPU

How to Increase Game ARPU Here's a quick framework to guide you:1️⃣ Retention FirstIf your retention rate is low, focus on improving it before anything else. A leaky bucket can't be filled.Check my flowchart on improving retention - https://lnkd.in/eiREXky52️⃣ Engagement is KeyHigh engagement drives better monetization. If engagement is low, consider enhancing gameplay mechanics or adding social features to boost activity.3️⃣ Conversion MattersTurn non-payers into payers by creating a resource shortage or offering starter packs for new spenders.4️⃣ Maximize Transaction ValueSegment your players to personalize offers and adjust prices. Whales? Focus on high-value items!5️⃣ Increase Purchase FrequencyIntroduce fresh activities for your paying players and run regular re-engagement campaigns.6️⃣ Diversify MonetizationExplore multiple models like Ads and Subscriptions to capture more value.

Anton Slashcev September 24

Journal

Why is SuperPlay valued at $2B?

Why is SuperPlay valued at $2B? Playtika is acquiring SuperPlay for up to $1.95B, and here’s why:1. Key Facts:- Founded in 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel- 350+ employees- Current monthly revenue: $22M (a massive +123% YoY growth!)2. Their games are crushing it:- Dice Dreams: 45.7M downloads, generating $17.6M in revenue- Domino Dreams: 10M downloads, making $4.5M in its first year3. Why the excitement?- Playtika’s deal values SuperPlay at almost 10x its annual revenue- SuperPlay is one of the fastest-growing mobile game developers- With Playtika’s expertise in live-ops and data-driven monetization, SuperPlay’s revenue is set to soar even higher- Domino Dreams can surpass their first hit, so growth potential is hugeWhat do you think? Is Playtika x SuperPlay the next mobile gaming giant? Data Souce: AppMagic

Anton Slashcev September 23

Journal

Layers of Game LTV

Layers of Game LTV Here is a breakdown:1. Marketing How do you bring players into the game and who they are?- Target Audience: Who are you appealing to?- Relevant Creatives: Are your ads on point?- CPI (Cost Per Install): Are you acquiring users efficiently?2. Engagement How do you keep players coming back?- DAU/WAU/MAU: Daily, weekly, and monthly active users matter.- Playtime & Session Length: The more time in-game, the better.- Levels Per User: Are players progressing? This drives retention.3. ProgressionHow do you guide players through the game?- Completion Rate: Are players finishing what they start?- Late Game: What keeps them engaged long-term?- Retention: Keep them coming back for more.- Churn Rate: Minimize players leaving the game.4. MonetizationHow do you turn engagement into revenue?- Conversion & Purchase Frequency: Get players to buy and keep buying.- ARPU/ARPPU: Maximize revenue per user and […]

Anton Slashcev September 22

Journal

Success Rate of Top Mobile Game Publishers?

What is the success rate of top mobile game publishers? Here is the data with sources:𝟭. 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 [https://lnkd.in/eKB9GrPE]• Total Games: 2• Successful games: 2• Success rate: 100.0%𝟮. 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗹𝘆 [https://lnkd.in/e6D-4gTY]• Total Games: 27• Successful games: 14• Success rate: 51.9%𝟯. 𝗖𝗢𝗚𝗡𝗢𝗦𝗣𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 [https://lnkd.in/eC66D7cG]• Total Games: 14• Successful games: 5• Success rate: 35.7%𝟰. 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹 [https://lnkd.in/eyt_RkHF]• Total Games: 17• Successful games: 6• Success rate: 35.3%𝟱. 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 [https://lnkd.in/e_2V3PZM]• Total Games: 7• Successful games: 2• Success rate: 28.6%𝟲. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗿𝗶𝘅 [https://lnkd.in/eBp-V_iu]• Total Games: 27• Successful games: 7• Success rate: 25.9%𝟳. 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗙𝘂𝗻 [https://lnkd.in/eHKKbWtj]• Total Games: 8• Successful games: 2• Success rate: 25.0%𝟴. 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 [https://lnkd.in/eYdRrzXR]• Total Games: 43• Successful games: 7• Success rate: 16.3%𝟵. 𝗡𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 [https://lnkd.in/eS9aUTcZ]• Total Games: 20• Successful games: 3• Success rate: 15.0%𝟭𝟬. 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 [https://lnkd.in/e9Fzehyk]• Total Games: 69• Successful games: 9• Success rate: 13.0%𝟭𝟭. 𝗭𝘆𝗻𝗴𝗮 [https://lnkd.in/euY-uPw6]• Total Games: 140• Successful games: 18• Success rate: 12.9%--------------------------------------------------------*A […]

Anton Slashcev September 20

Journal

Do and Don’ts in GameDev For New Studios

Here are the key Do's and Don'ts in GameDev for a new studio.

Anton Slashcev September 19

Journal

Key Metrics Every Mobile Game Developer Should Know

Key Metrics Every Mobile Game Developer Should Know Here are 8 essential KPIs you need to track:1️⃣ DAU (Daily Active Users)- Unique users who engage with your app daily.- How to impact: Regular content updates and improving retention are key.2️⃣ Retention- Percentage of users who continue playing over time.- How to impact: Improve FTUE, progression systems, and introduce meta elements to keep players coming back.3️⃣ Playtime- Average time users spend in the game daily.- How to impact: Deepen the game loop, introduce engaging mechanics, and add social elements.4️⃣ ARPU (Average Revenue Per User)- Average revenue generated per user over a specific period (daily/monthly).- How to impact: Boost conversion rates, add new in-app purchases, and optimize ad placements.5️⃣ Conversion- Percentage of users who make a purchase.- How to impact: Offer targeted offers, adjust prices for different segments, and enhance the perceived […]

Anton Slashcev September 18

Journal

Technical knowledge isn’t just for Game Devs.

Technical knowledge isn’t just for game developers. Managers need it too. I was shocked by some comments on my recent post— some managers don’t realize that game designers don’t need to code to work within an engine. 🤯 That’s why I’m ready to die on this hill: understanding the technical details of game development is critical, even for producers and managers.Why? Because without this knowledge, you’re at risk of making costly mistakes, like:• Hiring only game designers who can code• Expecting 3D models to be animation-ready without rigging and skinning• Assuming a game will run smoothly on all devices because it works on one• Ignoring technical debt until the codebase falls apart• Adding "just one small feature" that could take a year to develop• Delaying QA until the last minute because "finding bugs isn’t a big deal"Some might argue that […]

Anton Slashcev September 17

Journal

Want to break into game development in 2024?

Want to break into game development in 2024? Here’s how to start from scratch:𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝟬: Don’t spend a dollar on paid game design courses. → Focus on free, high-quality resources.𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝟭: 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗬→ Use these resources to build your foundation:𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗧𝘂𝗯𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘀: 🎥 Game Maker’s Toolkit (https://lnkd.in/eV8jiCC3) 🎥 Brackeys (https://lnkd.in/emePzUpy) 🎥 Thomas Brush (https://lnkd.in/e7NFK9vH)𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘀: 📝 Deconstructor of Fun (https://lnkd.in/eMdVqAPZ) 📝 Gamasutra (https://lnkd.in/e2cFCDBe) 📝 Game Design Skills (https://lnkd.in/ewXVpJ6H)𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀: 📚 Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (https://lnkd.in/etk_WeP5) 📚 The Art of Game Design by Jesse Schell (https://lnkd.in/eFt9MRdf) 📚 Blood, Sweat, and Pixels by Jason Schreier (https://lnkd.in/ebvmm7Ty)𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝟮: 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘→ Apply your knowledge in game jams every month:🕹️ Ludum Dare (https://ldjam.com) 🕹️ itch.io Game Jams (https://itch.io/jams) 🕹️ Game Jam Central (https://lnkd.in/et3fqfrk) 🕹️ One Game a Month (https://onegameamonth.com/) 🕹️ Global Game Jam (https://globalgamejam.org/) 🕹️ GMTK Game Jam (https://lnkd.in/ecSD6V_K)𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝟯: 𝗡𝗘𝗧𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞→ Connect with industry pros:𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄: Sergei VasiukGökhan Üzmez Jakub Remiar 𝗙𝗼𝗿 […]

Anton Slashcev September 16

Anton Slashcev

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